Bob Sanders/Cincinnati Bengals

[TC81190]

I just read that Bob Sanders is slated to become a free agent this off-season...I don't follow the NFL as closely as many here do, nor do I know his contract status or demands. But I do assume Indy is going to try to resign him.

But let's say Sanders does make it to free agency...is there any chance the Bengals could make a run at him? I love watching him, from what I've seen in the handful of Colts games I've watched this year. But would he be out of the Bengals' price range?

Thoughts?

[GoReds33]

The Bengals have a pretty good young secondary. Ndukwe played well today. They also have Marvin White, Dexter Jackson, and Madieu Williams. I just don't think that is an area they will aggressivly persue. None the less, he is a terrific player, and could only help this team.

[Oxilon]

With Freeney resigned last offseason, I'm willing to bet Sanders will at the very least get 'Franchised' by the Colts. No doubt however that the Bengals secondary would gladly welcome him. But than again, when was the last time the Bengals signed a notable free agent? Lorenzo Neal? Jeez...this team is hopeless.

[TC81190]

The Bengals have a pretty good young secondary. Ndukwe played well today. They also have Marvin White, Dexter Jackson, and Madieu Williams. I just don't think that is an area they will aggressivly persue. None the less, he is a terrific player, and could only help this team.

I do like Madieu Williams, and I also forgot Ndukwe, who's been impressive when he's played this season. I don't know about Marvin White, but to me Dexter Jackson looks like he's a lost a step out there. But reading now, I guess the secondary doesn't seem as big of a problem as I thought.

What about, then, Lance Briggs, the Chicago LB?

[Oxilon]

The Bengals have a pretty good young secondary. Ndukwe played well today. They also have Marvin White, Dexter Jackson, and Madieu Williams. I just don't think that is an area they will aggressivly persue. None the less, he is a terrific player, and could only help this team.

If Dexter Jackson and Madieu Williams are our starting safeties next year, it'll be 2007 all over again. With the exception of Leon Hall, Jonathan Joseph, and Ndukwe (maybe Geathers), the entire defense needs to be overhauled. I really don't think any one of our front seven would start anywhere besides in Cincy.

[TC81190]

Other notable FAs who may be of interest to the Bengals:
DE Jared Allen, G Alan Faneca, DT Albert Haynesworth, LB Lance Briggs, LB Terrell Suggs, T Flozell Adams, TE Dallas Clark, S Gibril Wilson

[NorrisHopper30]

I'd like to see the Bengals go after some D-lineman. Get rid of Justin Smith and sign Suggs or Haynesworth while drafting Ellis or Gholston.

[Oxilon]

I'd like to see the Bengals go after some D-lineman. Get rid of Justin Smith and sign Suggs or Haynesworth while drafting Ellis or Gholston.

I agree about getting rid of Justin Smith, and I would feel absolutely giddy if we could land Haynesworth or Suggs, but neither is going to be available. Both are going to be signed to LTC or Franchised at the very least.

[Yachtzee]

I've heard talk today about blowing up the D and revamping, which I think would be a good thing. I'm not so much concerned about the secondary as I am the front 7. Get better up front and that will in turn make guys like Joseph, Hall, Ndukwe, Williams and White better. It was annoying though that no one seemed to be anywhere near the receiver on the Browns touchdowns today.

[WMR]

I've heard talk today about blowing up the D and revamping, which I think would be a good thing. I'm not so much concerned about the secondary as I am the front 7. Get better up front and that will in turn make guys like Joseph, Hall, Ndukwe, Williams and White better. It was annoying though that no one seemed to be anywhere near the receiver on the Browns touchdowns today.

Two rookie safeties will do that to ya. Both times they were "passed off" by the DB covering them with the expectation of safety help... unfortunately, the safety help was nowhere to be found.

[Yachtzee]

Two rookie safeties will do that to ya. Both times they were "passed off" by the DB covering them with the expectation of safety help... unfortunately, the safety help was nowhere to be found.

Hopefully, they'll learn from the mistakes and improve. That's why I'm not as concerned about the secondary as I am the front 7.

[WMR]

Hopefully, they'll learn from the mistakes and improve. That's why I'm not as concerned about the secondary as I am the front 7.

Agree.

Wasn't that the first start this season for both of those two players? Maybe Ndukwe has started a game or two.

[WMR]

The pressure generated by our front seven--or lack thereof--is beyond atrocious.

I truly hope that next week is the last time we see Justin Smith in a Bengals uniform.

[gilpdawg]

As a Colts fan, I can tell you, there's no way we don't resign him.

[traderumor]

The pressure generated by our front seven--or lack thereof--is beyond atrocious.

I truly hope that next week is the last time we see Justin Smith in a Bengals uniform.So, Justin Smith is the whole front 7? He actually played a heckuva game today and there was a pretty good pass rush all day. Anderson didn't have much time to throw the entire game, had his arm hit at least once on a big 4th down play, there was a tip, a few hurries... The first half of the season I'd agree, but the push has been much better the second half.

[WMR]

Is Justin Smith worthy of franchise tag-type money? I don't think he is.

[GoReds33]

Is Justin Smith worthy of franchise tag-type money? I don't think he is.No, but look at what we're paying for Geathers. He got way too big of a deal. I think we need to get rid of Smith. This defense needs a face. We need somebody that people identify with our defense. I don't think that will come from within. Briggs would be a tremendous addition, and could possibly be that face. I just don't know how good he will be without Harris playing in front of him. Harris really frees up Briggs and Urlacher to go to work.

[traderumor]

Is Justin Smith worthy of franchise tag-type money? I don't think he is.I wasn't reading his contract when evaluating his play. He played a good game, you were railing that he is the downfall of the entire front 7. I consider that he might be more dominating if the rest of the front 7 were above instead of below average.

[Yachtzee]

I wasn't reading his contract when evaluating his play. He played a good game, you were railing that he is the downfall of the entire front 7. I consider that he might be more dominating if the rest of the front 7 were above instead of below average.


The problem with Justin Smith is that he totally lacks any kind of consistency. People praise him for his "high motor." Sometimes he has great games because of it. However, more often than not it results in him overpursuing the RB on a running play or being easily guided past the QB by the OL on a pass play. Great one game, disappears the next two. Smith is not a franchise player, but he's one of those guys who puts up a couple of great games and causes some people to think he has the potential to be great. Unfortunately, he's been in the league long enough now for us to know that he is what he is. If he's a leader of this D on the field, then he's not a very good one, because the D stinks. The game would have been a blowout in favor of the Browns if Derek Anderson hadn't made a number of ill-advised throws.

[Benihana]

Justin Smith will not be a Bengal next year, and I'm completely fine with that. I would LOVE to see the Bengals make a run at signing Albert Haynsworth, Jared Allen, Lance Briggs or Terrell Suggs. If they signed any of those four I would be more than happy.

Then, I would like to see the Bengals draft Chris Long, Sedrick Ellis, Vernon Gholston, or James Laurinaitis. Of couse I would love to see Glenn Dorsey, but that's not going to happen.

[sonny]

Gholston would be so awesome. The whole damn front seven needs an overhaul.

[bengalsown]

The Bengals have a pretty good young secondary. Ndukwe played well today. They also have Marvin White, Dexter Jackson, and Madieu Williams. I just don't think that is an area they will aggressivly persue. None the less, he is a terrific player, and could only help this team.

Madieu is a free agent, Dexter Jackson is garbage, and Ndukwe and White are unproven.

[bengalsown]

And you're crazy if you think the Bengals are going to overpay for a free agent to come to Cincinnati...

[Tony Cloninger]

Exactly....this is the Bengals front office we are talking about....they would rather re-sign average players beacuse they known them...then take a chance and pay for FA who can be and most likely would be better than the player they have.

Basically they would have no problem re-signing Smith even if the Dutchman DE from TENN was a FA and available for the same price being paid Smith now.

I think they should call Coy bacon and Eddie Edwards out of retirement......they have a better chance of doing that then signing an actual FA of value.

[WVRed]

Bob Sanders has been injury prone his whole career.

My feeling is the pick is going to be Sedrick Ellis. Laurianitis is not going to get past New England and McFadden will likely go before the Pats pick.

I do think Terrell Suggs would be an interesting fit, and with the Marvin connection, it could be a possibility.

[Cedric]

Bob Sanders has been injury prone his whole career.

My feeling is the pick is going to be Sedrick Ellis. Laurianitis is not going to get past New England and McFadden will likely go before the Pats pick.

I do think Terrell Suggs would be an interesting fit, and with the Marvin connection, it could be a possibility.

Marvin has no connection to Suggs.

[6-4-3]

http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=3171368


Sources: Sanders signs for five years, $37.5 million
By Chris Mortensen
ESPN.com

Indianapolis Colts safety Bob Sanders has signed a five-year, $37.5 million contract with the Colts that includes $20 million in guaranteed money, according to NFL sources.

The contract makes Sanders the highest-paid safety in the NFL.

Sanders, whose playoff performance sparked the Colts on their run to a Super Bowl victory last season, would have been an unrestricted free agent after this season.

Chris Mortensen covers the NFL for ESPN.

[WMR]

What kind of contract would Bob Sanders earn if the NFL had a payroll structure similar to MLB??? :eek: